Europe has recently witnessed the launch of its first live Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) project launched by The Central Bank of Hungary, with Perfinal taking center stage as the fintech backbone of this monumental transition. This remarkable initiative places Perfinal at the forefront of a digital currency revolution, as the financial world grapples with blending traditional mechanisms with new-age digital innovations. Continue reading
Central banks are faced with the ongoing debates – Should retail and wholesale clearing and settlement of CBDC payments be separated? The differentiation doesn’t matter to the average citizen user. Their primary concern is to have a straightforward, secure, and all-encompassing solution that enables them to transfer value easily and affordably, regardless of their access to a bank or mobile/internet connectivity. Continue reading
Charles Read, University of Cambridge
A former prime minister of Britain, Harold Wilson, is famous for remarking that a week is a long time in politics. But in the world of finance, it seems everything can change in just two days.
Jonquil Lowe, The Open University
The Bank of England has raised its base rate by 0.5 percentage points, the largest single upward jump in 27 years. It takes the base rate to 1.75%, its highest level since 2008. This latest interest rate hike will affect personal finances and reflects the Bank’s efforts to control rampant inflation amid the cost of living crisis in the UK.